Helen Fosam, PhD

Current definitions on how pain is measured are based on findings that are more than two decades old. A refresh may be in order.

While there are similarities in the pattern and severity of sleep disturbance between primary insomnia and pain-related insomnia, thought processes appear to play a significant role in the manifestation of pain-related insomnia.

Chronic pain management is dependent on the continuous assessment of pain to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is being used by clinicians to treat patients with symptomatic or post-traumatic osteoarthritis. While basic science and preclinical data support some benefit of PRP for a variety of sports-related injuries, robust randomized trials are limited.

The impact of sleep deprivation as a health hazard is well recognized. There is increasing evidence that sleep deprivation may in fact be a driver for the development or progression of inflammatory joint diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Smoking is a preventable modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality associated with rheumatoid arthritis, and therefore counseling and support for smoking cessation should be advocated in rheumatology practices.

Patients with rheumatic diseases face a variety of potential surgical complications as a result of either the disease itself or the medications used to manage it.

Although renal biopsy is relatively safe and serious complications are uncommon, the risk of bleeding and other adverse events remains a key concern.

The FDA’s proposal for the addition of a 4-letter suffix to the nonproprietary biologic name has stimulated a national debate among key stakeholders that is divided between opponents and proponents.

The case for full transparency has been argued from public health, human rights, and economic perspectives. US federal government agencies have proposed several recommendations to facilitate clinical data sharing, but the details are currently being defined through public consultation.

Neuropsychiatric manifestations, especially mood disorders and headache, are frequently observed in RA. The most common symptom was headache, potentially resulting from the disease process, treatment, or comorbid conditions unrelated to RA.

The role of the primary care physician has been gradually shifting from “gatekeeper” to greater responsibility in diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases.